When to replace timing belt and gear set?

Don’t take a chance reusing an old timing belt, chain or gear set. A high mileage timing chain that has stretched and is loose can’t maintain accurate valve timing and should be replaced if play exceeds specifications. The camshaft and crankshaft sprockets should also be replaced along with chain.

Do you have to be dead on with timing belt alignment?

Because modern vehicles use so many electronics to control the engine with things such as crank and camshaft timing sensors, technicians need to be, as we say in the industry, “dead-on” with the timing belt alignment. The cam gear cannot be off by even a tooth, or the engine will set a DTC.

How can you tell when your drive belt needs to be replaced?

Most car manufacturers don’t specify the exact mileage, but recommend having the belt inspected during your regular maintenance visits. How can you tell if the drive belt needs a replacement? Your mechanic will look for cuts, cracks, missing chunks and other signs of wear; usually, it’s fairly easy to see if the belt is worn out.

What happens when your timing belt gives up the ghost?

Your engine’s timing belt is the most important maintenance item in your car. What happens when this component gives up the ghost, and how hard is it to fix by yourself? What Is A Timing Belt? A timing belt is the ribbed belt that is placed in a specific configuration along one side of your engine to keep the crank and camshafts timed properly.

When to replace timing chains and guide assemblies?

The two DOHC timing chains and guide assemblies should also be replaced at the same time. As for timing belts, they do not stretch with age, but become weak internally and may fail with no warning. Consequently, a visual inspection of the belt may not reveal much. If the mileage is not known, replace the belt.

Why are timing chains used instead of gears?

Even many engines where the camshaft is located in the block have gone to timing chains rather than gears mostly because they are quieter and cheaper to manufacture. However, the term timing gear has hung on and is still in common use to describe the sprockets that drive timing chains and timing belts as well.

What should I do to tighten my timing chain?

Tighten the chain according to your car manual’s specifications. Some chains are tensioned by adjusting either the crankshaft gear or the camshaft gear, while others have an automatic tensioner. This will vary by make and model of your car. The important thing is to make sure that your timing belt is as tight as it should be.

What are the timing gears on a Chevy LT1?

Chevy has also used two different timing gears on its LT1 V8 engines. The earlier 1992-’95 LT1 engines with aluminum heads use a p/n 10128349 cam drive gear with a small hole with 16 splines in the center. On 1995 and later LT1s, a different gear (p/n 10206039) with a larger, unsplined center hole is used.

How is timing chain and gear set replacement?

Replacement involves removal of the timing cover, timing chain tensioner, timing chain, timing gears and timing chain guide rails. These are all replaced during a timing chain service. Timing chain guides are typically held in place by pins or fasteners, and one end will typically be left to pivot freely with the timing chain.

What’s the best way to change a timing belt?

The important thing is to make sure that your timing belt is as tight as it should be. Drive out the crankshaft seal with a hammer and punch. This is the rubber seal around the crankshaft and the timing cover. Tap the new crankshaft seal into the timing cover. The seal should be seated into the correct place on the timing cover.

How do you put timing chain on Cam?

Place the timing chain onto the cam gear and then over the crankshaft gear as you slide the lower gear over the keyway and into place. Slide the camshaft gear onto the cam, aligning the hole in the gear with the dowel in the front of the cam.

What happens if you have a worn timing gear?

A worn timing gear may become noisy or it may show no symptom at all. They rarely fail completely but if they do, you may have other serious damage to the engine. At the very least you will be stranded. So a worn timing gear should not be neglected. Step 1: Jack up the car. Make sure the car is in Park, or in first gear if it is a manual.

Where does the timing chain go on a pushrod engine?

As a rule, most pushrod engines use a timing chain to drive the camshaft, though some older four and six cylinder engines use a gear set. A short chain or gear set works well in this kind of application because the camshaft is located in the block just above the crankshaft.

How does the camshaft advance actuator system work?

With the signal received from the PCM, the solenoids actuators open allowing engine pressure to enter either one of the two passages; camshaft advance or camshaft retard. Since the solenoid is pulse width modulated, the system can vary camshaft position between its two limits (25 or 50 degs depending on system).

What does the timing chain do on a car?

Your timing chain serves as a link between your crankshaft and camshaft to assure the two are in time. A gear on the crankshaft drives the camshaft (s) that activates valves during the proper piston stroke. When the chain stretches out it can affect the ignition and valve timing.

What kind of timing chain does O’Reilly use?

This can result in backfiring, misfiring, or metal shavings in your oil. O’Reilly Auto Parts carries timing chain sets which include the gears, timing chain, and related components. For a complete repair, find the timing chain set that fits your vehicle.

What is the result of a VTC actuator failure?

The result of VTC actuator complete mechanical failure is catastrophic. The valves from the intake of either cylinder 2 & 3 or 1 & 4 WILL result in a tensioner to fail and a fantastic collision of the valve with the piston. ~ drive accord.net

When to know if your Honda Accord has an actuator problem?

If “Engine Rattles at Cold Startup” sounds like your Honda Accord, Crossfire, or CR-V, you probably have a VTC Actuator problem. Find a low or no cost fix. If “Engine Rattles at Cold Startup” sounds like your Honda Accord, Crossfire, or CR-V, you probably have a VTC Actuator problem. Find a low or no cost fix. Julieanna’s Soapbox

Do you need a timing chain to drive a sprocket?

This requires a much longer chain or a rubber belt to drive the camshaft. In some engines, such as a Chevy 3.4L DOHC V6, a timing chain is used to drive an intermediate sprocket that drives two belts (one for each cam). Timing belts and chains carry a heavy load.

What kind of timing belt does a GM overhead cam use?

Some overhead cam engines in General Motors vehicles use timing belts to drive the cam (the 2.0L for example), some use chains (2.3L Quad Four, Cadillac’s Northstar dual overhead cam 4.6L V8, the Aurora Northstar 4.0L V8 and Chevy’s Vortec 4200 inline six), and some use a combination of both (Chevrolet’s 3.4L V6).

When do I need to change my timing belt?

Most models, like those with 3.2-liter engines, do not need their timing belt replaced until they hit 92,000 miles or after six years, whichever comes first. Others can go as long as 105,000 miles before the belt has to be replaced. Most Audis have a recommended timing belt replacement at 110,000 miles.

What kind of timing chain does GM use?

The rest of GM’s lineup (2.0/2.2L, 3100, 3300 and 3800 V6; 5.0, 5.7L and 7.4L V8, etc.) are all pushrod engines that use a traditional timing chain and gear set to turn the cam. To better understand the cam drives on some of these GM applications, let’s take a closer look at a few examples to see what’s unique or different.

Why does the timing belt jump on an OHC engine?

On OHC engines where the water pump pulley tensions the timing belt, a failure of the water pump shaft bearing may cause enough loss of tension to allow the belt to jump time. So any time you’re replacing a failed water pump on such an engine, don’t assume cam timing is correct.

How is the timing belt attached to the engine?

The timing belt is attached by way of a series of pulleys to the engine’s crank and cam shaft. The crankshaft powers the engine’s connecting rods which are attached to pistons inside the combustion chamber.

What should I do if my timing chain jumps?

If your timing chain has jumped, it needs to be fixed right away. It’s only a short matter of time before it’s going to jump again or break all the way. When that happens, it’s very likely that your engine will need a complete overhaul.

How to know when your timing chain has jumped?

1 Noise – A good indication that a timing chain has jumped is going be noise. 2 Performance Decrease – The engine timing is going to be affected when the timing chain jumps. 3 Service Engine Soon – Your vehicles ECM may or may not have enough input from the engines sensors to detect that the timing chain has jumped. But, it often does.

Where are the timing marks on a timing belt?

(2a) Find the timing marks on the flywheel and cam, and set them both to TDC. (2b) The flywheel pulley TDC mark is accessible through a hole in the bellhousing. (2c) The camshaft TDC is easy to find — especially if you add white paint as we did.

Where are the timing marks on the crankshaft?

For the crankshaft below, there probably will be a timing mark on the damper pulley that lines up with another mark on the lower cover. Or, the service manual may direct you to the transmission end of the engine to look through a hole in the bellhousing for a timing mark on the flywheel.

When do I need to change the timing chain?

The timing chain normally needs to be replaced between 40,000 and 100,000 miles unless there is a problem. Issues with the chain are pretty common in high mileage vehicles, so if you are driving an older vehicle, or one with a lot of miles, it is best to be on the lookout for symptoms of the timing chain going bad or failing.

How are gears connected to the timing chain?

Locate marks on your crankshaft and camshaft gears. These gears are connected by the timing chain so that the position of the piston (connected to the crankshaft) correlates directly to the opening of the fuel and exhaust valves (operated by the camshaft) to keep your engine running smoothly.

What can cause a timing chain to go bad?

The wrong oil can cause extra load on the chain and the engine will not be properly lubricated. Since the timing chain can go bad and will need to be replaced, it is important to be able to recognize the symptoms so you can have it repaired before it fails completely.

When do you know to change the timing chain?

A timing chain runs inside the engine, as it needs to be lubricated by the engine oil. A timing belt typically needs to be replaced between 40,000 and 100,000 miles depending on the vehicle and it’s a few hundred dollar repair. A timing chain doesn’t need to be replaced unless there is a problem with it.

What’s the timing belt on a GM 3.0L V6?

On GM’s 3.0L DOHC V6, for example, GM says to use a crankshaft holder tool (J42069-10) and camshaft holders (J42069-1 and J42069-2) or something equivalent to prevent movement while the timing belt is wrapped around the pulleys and tightened.

Where to get timing chain and gear set?

Select your preferred location and we’ll note which parts are ready to be picked up TODAY. Timing Chain and Gear Set, Magnum Double Row, Billet Steel Crankshaft Sprocket, Cast Iron Camshaft Gear, Chevrolet, V6, V8 Small Block Gen I, Set

When to replace timing belt and gear set?